A Tour of Annville
The Washington House
245 W. Main St.
Annville, Lebanon Co, PA
Compiled by Linnea Miller, Annville PA, 1997.©
Photo taken about 1883.©
Working Chronology of Owners/Renters of:
Washington House
***Part of Land Warrant dated 2 August 1742, originally surveyed for Francis
Reynolds (a large land-owner of Lebanon city area) for 132 acres in Lebanon
Twp.He was unable to satisfy terms of warrant. Warrant for same tract issued
to Andrew Miller 11 February 1747. Warrant signed 15 March 1747 & recorded
in Philadelphia Patent Book on 26 September 1748. Roughly this tract included
land from about (present) Cherry St. on the west to about (present) Manheim
St. on the east; from the Quittapahilla Creek on the south to somewhere
between (present) Lebanon alley & Church St. on the north. {This is
from comparisons of original land patent maps to current Annville area
maps, as well as bounding warrantee’s land descriptions and other deed
searches which traced “history” of properties.} Andrew Miller required
to pay 1/2-penny per acre yearly as quit rent to proprietaries {Thomas
& Richard Penn}. Andrew Miller died before June 1754.
***16 October 1762 {recorded 28 October 1762 in Philadelphia Patent
Book}, Abraham Miller {Andrew’s eldest son} had this same tract, plus another
bordering on the west {originally patented by Matthias Bumgardner and included
land to the west of the Quittapahilla Creek}, patented. Again, yearly quit
rent to the proprietaries for this 191 acres.
***In a Lancaster County PA Indenture dated 31 March 1764, Abraham
Miller sells 167 acres of this 191 acres to Adam Ulrich. These tracts are
mostly extending approximately from the Quittapahilla along Market or Main
St. to Adam Ulrich’s land at approximately {present} Manheim St. and including
all of Abraham’s land north of Market or Main St.
***Indenture recorded 17 October 1776 in Lancaster Co PA, Adam Ulrich
sells 4 tracts of land {one of which is mostly north of Main St. from the
Quittapahilla west to White Oak St.} to his son, Martin Ulrich. This particular
tract, which includes the land on which the {present} Washington House
stands is in a tract of 103-1/2 acres.
Indenture of May 1795 Dauphin Co, Martin Ulrich sells five contiguous
lots to John Eberhard Bender & wife Mary, of which this property is
a part. (per 1814 Indenture to Michael Forry, Lebanon Co)
John Eberhard Bender is shown to have a tavern license petition for
“Anwill Town [otherwise called Millers Town]” approved by Dauphin Co in
1789. On the petition it states, “That your petitioner having erected a
convenient house with stables and other buildings suitable for a public
house or house of entertainment for the accomodation of travellers and
others.” At this time, we are not aware of any other property that
this Bender may have owned or lived on in Annville. A good probability
is that the location of the “public house” was the Washington House which
may have been built around 1788/89.
Assignment of 2 Aug 1796 to Adam Alt & wife Mary. (per 1814
Indenture to Michael Forry, Lebanon Co)
Assignment of 3 Aug 1796 to Jacob Hoffman & wife Magdalena.
(per 1814 Indenture to Michael Forry, Lebanon Co)
Indenture of 1 Oct 1799 to Jacob Sander, elder & wife Susanna.
(per 1814 Indenture to Michael Forry, Lebanon Co)
Indenture of 30 April 1803 to Jacob Miller “together with singular
houses...etc. profits, & yearly ground rent to proprietor.” (per 1814
Indenture to Michael Forry, Lebanon Co).
Indenture of 26 Sept 1814 (Lebanon Co) to Michael Forry, Innkeeper
for 103£15shillings. Land bounded by Market St to south, lot of Jacob
Miller (or an alley not mentioned in other deeds) to east, Lebanon alley
to north and lot of Michael Forry to west. (note: does not mention a street
where Chestnut St is now) property is 4 perches x 12 perches.
2 Jan 1821 Abraham Raiguel took possession of this land per an edict
handed down by Frederick Embich, High Sheriff of Lebanon County. I have
not been able to locate this record to determine what happened to Forry
which caused this to occur. Probably money problems, which many people
had as early multiple-property owners. Also, Michael Forry was Abraham
Raiguel's son-in-law!
1 April 1824 from to William Moore & wife Elizabeth (per
1884 Indenture to William D. Miller, Lebanon Co).
Before 1839 Bingham’s store was located here (per “A Visit to Annville”
by Bierman.)
In 1839, Christian Hoverter operated his store here. John Killinger
worked for him. (per “A Visit to Annville” by Bierman)
Indenture 2 April 1839 to Henry Ellenberger & wife Maria
(per 1884 Indenture to William D. Miller, Lebanon Co). Henry Ellenberger
was a merchant.
Indenture 21 January 1845 to Samuel Shenk (per 1884 Indenture to William
D. Miller, Lebanon Co). Samuel Shenk was a merchant.
Indenture 18 January 1840 to Jacob Carmany (per 1884 Indenture to William
D. Miller, Lebanon Co). Jacob Carmany ran the Washington House as a tavern.
Indenture 3 April 1883 to O.H. Henry (per 1884 Indenture to William
D. Miller, Lebanon Co).
Indenture 1 April 1884 to William
D. Miller and wife Sarah (Long). Property known as the Washington House
Hotel and 1-1/2 lots. Bounded by Main St on the south, Lebanon Alley on
the north, Hopewell St (now Chestnut St) on the west and lot of Sarah W.
Reinhard to the east. Now the property is referred to as 1-1/2 lots (6
perches by 12 perches). We have not determined when the lot was made larger
to include the 1/2-lot. William Miller again opened this establishment
as a tavern.
Indenture 14 August 1904 to Joseph P. Knight, Jr of Annville. Interesting....Jos.
Knight also ran the Pennsylvania House (now Johnson’s Hotel at 201 W. Main
St.) for a good many years in the early part of this century. (Future
research.)
***In recent searching on this property, I did not see an indenture
where Jos Knight had purchased the Penna House, he probably was the proprietor
and did not own the building, but that is not a fact right now.)
***Another note: Wm Miller gave Jos Knight a mortgage for the purchase
of the Washington House in 1904 (did not view this, was referred to in
indenture.) In 1908 this mortgage was assigned to Christian Gingrich. I
believe this coincides with Wm’s health declining.
********* Add’l info ************
Indenture 1910 from Jos Knight Jr to Jacob R. Shenk & wife Annie
of Hummelstown.
Indenture 1912 from Jacob Shenk to Amos H. Biever & wife Mary E.
of Elizabethtown
1907: A.H. Biever listed as proprietor of Washington House (City Directory
1907/08). Assumption: he was proprietor from at least 1907 (when Knight
owned building) & continued through Shenk’s ownership & until his
death.
Indenture 1915 from Amos Biever estate to Adam M. Filbert & wife
Elinor. Adam died & Elinor was allowed to live there until her death.
When she died, son Raymond L. Filbert & wife Marianne took ownership.
(per Adam’s will & statement in indenture.)
Indenture 1919 from Raymond L. Filbert to Lucy R. Shanaman, wife of
Adam R. Shanaman.
Indenture 1921 from Lucy R. Shanaman to Ira Kreider & wife Annie
L.
********* End Addition ************
Indenture of 3 April 1922 from Ira Kreider & wife Annie L. to Jacob
S. Eshelman. (per Indenture of 1 June 1924).
Indenture of1 June 1924 to Jacob S. Eshelman of the village of Bachmansville
Conewago Twp Dauphin Co & wife Kathryn to C. Fletcher Cannon of Annville
and wife Jennie B.
Indenture of 20 January 1931 to Ida A. Wise, widow of Hummelstown.
Indenture 20 January 1931 to C, Fletcher Cannon & wife Jennie B.
Both of these transfers were for $1.00. Would be interesting to find
out what was happening - Ida Wise is probably some relative.
1925 Road Map of Annville, Cannon listed: Washington House, boarding
& lodging.
Indenture of 20 October 1947 from Jennie B. Cannon, widow, to Earl
Ervin Treiber & wife Edith M. Again we’re looking at a $1.00 payment.
In 1942, Treiber’s had a resaturant here, known as the Washington House,
then they operated a store, finally selling shoes before they closed about
1958.
Indenture of 30 September 1969 from Edith M. Treiber, widow, to Walter
A. Reigle & wife Marion E.
The Reigle’s opened as the Washington House and obtained a beer license.
Indenture of 29 November 1984 from the Reigle’s, now of Derry Twp,
to Paul E. Betz & wife Sandra F.
Location continues as a tavern.
Indenture of 22 September 1989 to William F. Margut & Scott E.
Houser the present owners.
*** Many of the properties in Annville, especially those on the north
side of Main Street, will begin with this scenario.
If you have any connections to these families or this property,
please contact me. I'd love to know more about both!
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ltmiller@geocities.com
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